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Arthur's death and my father's disappearance spread abroad. The servant had a whore who hid him and sent him forth in her garments. He sought me out and bid me fly for my life. We were to be weeded out, we Hedinghams, root, stock, and branch, so that none would cry aloud that my father was innocent." Then, suddenly, Sir Guy began to laugh bitterly, and his eyes lit. "Fool that I am, fool! I know how you can obtain restitution for the losses I have inflicted upon you. Please, Lady Alinor, bid your lord pardon my men. They are worth nothing. You can sell me to the king for any price you like to name." |
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"Does the king know you?" Alinor asked. |
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"Does he know your face?" Alinor insisted. |
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"I do not think so. I cannot see how he would, having seen me only once or twice and then as part of a crowd, but I can prove who I am. I swear if you pardon my men, I will not deny my name nor will I" |
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Alinor began to laugh aloud. Sir Guy was shocked by the sound as well as by the sudden brilliant, greenish glow in her eyes. Alinor laughed even more at his expression. |
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"No, no, I am not a monster," she said, sobering after a moment. "I do not laugh at the horrors you tell me or at your sorrows and wrongs. It merely gives me great pleasure to know that I can be the cause whereby our beloved king will sleep less easily in his bed at night." |
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There was a moment of silence while Sir Guy stared stonily at the floor. Then his head snapped up. "Did you say less easily, madam?" |
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"If I could strew his bed with thorns or nettles, I would do it," Alinor said grimly; "but as I cannot, at least you will be a sharp fear to prick his mind." |
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The blue eyes, at once hopeful and unbelieving, stared at her. "I do not understand," Sir Guy whispered. |
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"I have a private quarrel with the king," Alinor replied. "That is no affair of yours, except that I will |
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